Clip



Feb. 8, 1944. L. w. scHAAFF 2,341,121

' CLIP Filed sep'. s, 1942 Patented Feb. 8, 1944 CLIP Louis W. Schaa,Jackson Heights, N. Y., assignor to Waldes Koh-I-Noor, Inc., Long IslandCity, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 3, 1942,Serial No. .457,204

2 claims. (c1. 24-259) This invention relates to improvements in clipsfor temporarily bindingtogether sheets of paper, fabric, and similarmaterial, and in its more specific aspects to clips of the type known aspaper clips.

The invention contemplates and has for'v its principal object theprovision of an improved paper clip which is simple in handling, easy toapply to the sheets to be bound, and which is so formed that it iscapable of binding the sheets flat and tying them together Withoutbulking, and which, moreover, is sufciently thin as to take up littlespace in folders or ling cabinets.

It is a further aim of the invention to provide a clip characterized asabove which may be readily manufactured in quantity in a single strokestamping-out process from readily available sheet materials, andparticularly from nonmetallic materials, such as vulcanized fiber.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part hereinafter pointedout in connection with the following analysis of the invention whereinis illustrated an embodiment of the invention in detail.

In the drawing illustrating one embodiment of the invention- Fig. 1 is aplan view of the clip in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the clip illustrated in Fig. 1 appliedas a binder to a p lurality of sheets, such as paper sheets; and

Fig. 3 is a section taken along line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like characters designate likeparts throughout the several views, a clip according to the invention ispreferably stamped out in a single operation from a sheet of suitablematerial to have form and area providing adequate frictional and bindingcontact with the paper or like sheets to be bound together. As shown,the clip comprises a body I of generally heart-shaped contour as denedby the outer arcuate edge 2, with a transverse bridging part 3 at itstop, the body enclosing a depending tongue cut from the sheet formingthe body along an arcuate line of cut 4 which as shown has the samecurvature'as that of the outer edge 2, the tongue being 1ntegrallyconnected with the bridge part 3 by a root 6.

By reference to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be observed that the line of cut4 between the heartshaped portion of the clip body and the tongue 5provides only the suflicient clearance required for the adjacent edgesof the tongue proper and body part to have relative separating movement,and to come together with a scissoring action on a sheet of paperdisposed between the upper face of the clip body and the under face ofthe tongue. As distinguished therefrom, the side edges of the tongueroot 6 are spaced somewhat from the inner edges of the adjacent stayportions H, I2 of the clip bodjn to provide straightway slots 1,. 8 ofnarrow width to the sides of the tongue root. These narrow slots l. 8facilitate the insertion of the paper sheets between the tongue root andthe stay portions of the clip body, permit the paper sheets to bendreadily and freely across the rear face of the tongue root as indicatedin Fig. 3, and moreover provide that the tongue can lie at andsubstantially in the plane of the clip body.

As will be observed from Fig. 2, the clip of the invention is readilyapplied to the sheets of paper or the like to be bound by springing thetongue 5 slightly forwardly of the plane of the clip body and thereuponslipping the edge portions of the paper sheets into the space betweenthe tongue and clip body until their edges strike the end of the slotsl, 8. By reason of the inherent resiliency of the material from Whichthe clip is formed, the tongue tends to return to the plane of the clipbody, and in so doing the paper sheets along their edges are bent atright angles to their planes, and rearwardly of the tongue root, in themanner indicated in Fig. 3. Moreover, the return movement of the tongueresults in its edge having what may be termed scissoring action with theinner edge of the clip body, to the end that the paper sheets aregripped between said edges. Due to the arcuate contour of the tongue andthe inner edge of the clip body, a relatively long length of grippingedge is provided. Moreover, the large area of tongue face and theequivalently large face area of the clip body present surfaces whichhave frictional contact on the outer faces of the sheets to be bound,this latter augmenting the scissoring gripping eiect as aforesaid. d

To further increase the gripping effect of the clip, the clip body alongits lower inner edge is provided with a point-like projection I3 adapedto fit into a notch I4 cut into the edge of the tongue 5. As shown, theprojection I3 and notch I4 are arranged on the longitudinal center lineof the clip, it being understood, however, that such positioning 1sillustrative only and that more than one projection and its matingelastic, readily machinable, and possessing the.

property of maintaining its form and resiliency' under varyingconditions of use and climate.

As many changes could be madevin carrying out the aboveconstructions-withouttdepartingf, from the scope of the invention,it'isintended that all matter contained in the above description orshown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrativeand not in,.a,limitf ing sense.

I claim:

l.: Acclip. oi the. class; described, comprising, a` sheeteorm n clip.body and.j a tongue; integrallyr connectedtd and enclosed: within the:body7 said tongue. being denedland separated, from the body bylxan,arc-likellineof, cut prbviding adjacent body and*` tongue edges of.relatively. great length arranged to gripshee.ts of; paper or likematerial. therebetween,1 said` tongue beingconnected to the slip body bya tongue root, said tongue root having side edges which are spaced fromthe adjacent inner edge portions of the body by slots having widthsufficient to permit sheets held by the clip to bend readily and freelybetween said edge portions and the tongue root, the line of. cut betweenthe tongue and clip body further dening a projection on the one and amating notchI on the other.

2. A clip of' the class described, comprising a sheet-form clip body anda tongue integrally connected to and enclosed within the body, saidtongue being defined and separated from the body by an arc-like line ofcut providing adjacent. body and' tongue edges of relatively greatlengtharrangedgtogrip sheets of paper or like material therebetween,said tongue being connected'to;y the clip-.body by a tongue root, saidtongue root having side edges which are spaced from the adjacent inneredge portions of the bodybyislotsshaving Width sufficient: to permitsheets held bythe-clip; to; bend readilyrand: freely,1 between. said,edge portions andthe-tongue root,

the lineeofecutldeninglza. pointed projection exf-v tending inwardlyfrom the inner edgeofzthe: clip:

body and a notch in thenouter edgeoiith'etongue adapted. toreceivelsaid-projection,

LOUIS W; SCHAAFF;

